Speaker Upgrade Advice
- Thread starter Lizard King
- Start date
You should also consider the B&W 603, they are in your budget & i have demoed them with the Cambridge Audio Edge A integrated amp & was amazed. Value for money if you ask me. Check some reviews online.
All the best for your hunt..
All the best for your hunt..
Lizard King
Well-Known Member
I heard them but wasn't very happy. But wasn't with the high end amp as you did. Some NAD IIRC. 700 series is out of budget.
Isn’t a 926 around 2.5-3 lakhs? A B&W 801 Matrix 3 will be around USD 2500 for a used one. Add shipping and customs. And you are looking at around 3.5 lakhsHaven't you seen my budget?
801 or 800 is of no difference to me
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Yes it is, when the Indian dealer changed hands , there was a stock clearance sale at 1.5L to 1.6L INR (btw France prices are around 1800 Euro) Many (including myself) bought it during the period. At that price range it is/was unbeatable.
MRP is around 3.2L , even with new dealership around 35-40% discount was possible. Selling price can be between 1.85-2.1L depending on the dealer relationship
Lizard King
Well-Known Member
Tried my best to negotiate, unable to get that low..
Could be the amp then as for me the 603 was very dynamic with the CA Edge A. I know the Edge A is a high end amplifier but B&Ws need some good current to shine. You can get a 603 & the Arcam SA30 later on, it will be a lovely match if you ask me..
Cheers.
Lizard King
Well-Known Member
sandeepmohan
Well-Known Member
My advice is to take all the time you need to find the right speaker. Listen to as many as you can before you take a call. This process can take months. Don't ever buy anything without an audition and on instant amazement. I took an entire year to decide and that was mostly down to the fact that I was going to go shopping for everything in one go.
In my view, speakers are what define the sound. A little less so with the components in the chain. That is my personal take. I also believe the gear you have is pretty good, for the kind of music you listen to. Before you go plonk 200k or 300k on a new loudspeaker, make sure you've got everything set up right with what you have. Your Marantz amplifier is superb. I see no reason why it cannot drive a 4 ohm load when it rated to do so. On how well it would do that, well, take the amplifier and plug it into the speaker you are auditioning and then compare it to the amplifier the dealer has so you know where the short comings are, if any.
Have you tried adjusting the tone controls on the amplifier in small incremental steps to see if it makes a change to the sound? This will not correct any tone roll off issues. The idea is to compensate in some way. These controls are useful to a small degree which is why they are present. In some cases, you may have to dial things down a bit, such as bass, since you say there is plenty of it.
Of all the speakers you have listed, I can only think of Dyna Audio that will appeal and with that needs solid, expensive amplifier to make them sound good. Like I said earlier, your Marantz could well do the job but unless you try, you will not know.
I've heard some model of a Rethm and it was not my kind of speaker. The first thing I realized about them was they need space, which I did not have. In order for them to shine, you better feed them with a good source, power and a top notch recording. An Artist like Deep Purple or a terribly recorded Led Zepplin, on a Rethm is a no-go for me.
While you are auditioning all this gear with familiar music, take a modern recording along with you. Most of the Artists you listed were recorded decades ago and remastered a zillion times. It helps to have something fresh and new with you.
All the best.
In my view, speakers are what define the sound. A little less so with the components in the chain. That is my personal take. I also believe the gear you have is pretty good, for the kind of music you listen to. Before you go plonk 200k or 300k on a new loudspeaker, make sure you've got everything set up right with what you have. Your Marantz amplifier is superb. I see no reason why it cannot drive a 4 ohm load when it rated to do so. On how well it would do that, well, take the amplifier and plug it into the speaker you are auditioning and then compare it to the amplifier the dealer has so you know where the short comings are, if any.
Have you tried adjusting the tone controls on the amplifier in small incremental steps to see if it makes a change to the sound? This will not correct any tone roll off issues. The idea is to compensate in some way. These controls are useful to a small degree which is why they are present. In some cases, you may have to dial things down a bit, such as bass, since you say there is plenty of it.
Of all the speakers you have listed, I can only think of Dyna Audio that will appeal and with that needs solid, expensive amplifier to make them sound good. Like I said earlier, your Marantz could well do the job but unless you try, you will not know.
I've heard some model of a Rethm and it was not my kind of speaker. The first thing I realized about them was they need space, which I did not have. In order for them to shine, you better feed them with a good source, power and a top notch recording. An Artist like Deep Purple or a terribly recorded Led Zepplin, on a Rethm is a no-go for me.
While you are auditioning all this gear with familiar music, take a modern recording along with you. Most of the Artists you listed were recorded decades ago and remastered a zillion times. It helps to have something fresh and new with you.
All the best.
Pratyush J
Active Member
+1 @sandeepmohan
@Lizard King since the investment will be substantial so please audition as many as possible before buying, even if it takes time. Listening tastes are very subjective, something that sounds warm to someone might not be warm to you or is overly warm; similarly being bright / neutral / resolving / clinical etc etc. Since you are also planning to retain your top half of the rig, so that brings in little bit more of variability. So please beg/borrow/steal speakers, connect to your rig, evaluate and then buy.
Sorry, did not want to puncture the bubble!
@Lizard King since the investment will be substantial so please audition as many as possible before buying, even if it takes time. Listening tastes are very subjective, something that sounds warm to someone might not be warm to you or is overly warm; similarly being bright / neutral / resolving / clinical etc etc. Since you are also planning to retain your top half of the rig, so that brings in little bit more of variability. So please beg/borrow/steal speakers, connect to your rig, evaluate and then buy.
Sorry, did not want to puncture the bubble!
Lizard King
Well-Known Member
Thanks Sandeepmohan and Pratyush.
I definitely appreciate and agree with you.
Inspite of my exuberant tone, I'm a very conservative person when it comes to spending. I take care of my equipment and use them for long. Recently sold one of my cars after 16 years of ownership
Similarly my present modest rig is built over several years with audition and deliberation. I know the sound signature I like and have stuck to that even when faced with the lure of new purchases.
New equipment acquisition is like going out with a new girl. For all the excitement, you don't kiss her till 3rd date and meet her dad only after 6 months
I've been looking forward to change my speakers over 1 year, an effort which is on hold due to pandemic and subsequent loss of audition facilities. Recent extensions of lockdown make the frustration even worse.
Recently I came to note that many speakers are going for significant discounts. Maybe stock clearance or distress sales. That has spurred my sudden interest. I'm hoping to get some audition due to the grace of some forum members. Will slowly take it from there.
My sincere thanks to all the FM who reached out to help me here as well as personally. It feels really great to see how experienced members mentor new comers here with any one-upmanship, rancour, grudge or belittlement, regardless of how big or small the request of help may be.
I shall keep you posted here in this thread which way things are headed.
Thanks.
I definitely appreciate and agree with you.
Inspite of my exuberant tone, I'm a very conservative person when it comes to spending. I take care of my equipment and use them for long. Recently sold one of my cars after 16 years of ownership
Similarly my present modest rig is built over several years with audition and deliberation. I know the sound signature I like and have stuck to that even when faced with the lure of new purchases.
New equipment acquisition is like going out with a new girl. For all the excitement, you don't kiss her till 3rd date and meet her dad only after 6 months
I've been looking forward to change my speakers over 1 year, an effort which is on hold due to pandemic and subsequent loss of audition facilities. Recent extensions of lockdown make the frustration even worse.
Recently I came to note that many speakers are going for significant discounts. Maybe stock clearance or distress sales. That has spurred my sudden interest. I'm hoping to get some audition due to the grace of some forum members. Will slowly take it from there.
My sincere thanks to all the FM who reached out to help me here as well as personally. It feels really great to see how experienced members mentor new comers here with any one-upmanship, rancour, grudge or belittlement, regardless of how big or small the request of help may be.
I shall keep you posted here in this thread which way things are headed.
Thanks.
SuyashMoorpana
Member
Focal is the one to go for man.
Owning a pair myself i feel nothing beats tha sound of Focal.
You may consider Monitor Audio if you usually have long listening sessions.
Monitor Audio's speakers are usually warm sounding.
For your budget and genre, ATC scm 40s/40 actives or 50s will be a phonomenal acquisition, definitely a worthwhile consideration
powerslave
Active Member
OP has mentioned that he won't be upgrading the Amps soon, I don't think the PM6XX series can drive SCM 40s optimally other owners can correct me but they won't come for the budget OP has unless bought used. I think in the Aria 926 price bracket Klipsch Hersey IV could be another contender they are definitely well suited for Rock music. Not sure if Forte IV would come close within the budget bracket.
It's the 8006 paired with the cdp6006 which will be upgraded to 8006 as well. The devil is in the details
Order your Rega Turntables & Amplifiers from HiFiMART.com - India's reputed online dealer.
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